University rating
Tell us about your overall university experience so far.
It's been a rollercoaster - I've had major depressive episodes and due to seeing one of the mental health people here I 've been told I have anxiety, but they have given me support and advice to help me (signing up for online therapy and putting me down for counselling).
The work has been ok to deal with, I do get stressed but that's just a part of doing assessments really, I've had help across all modules taken, both with academic work and support when I become anxious.
My flatmates have become my second family, we're all really close and it's great for me to have people I can share things with and have great fun with so close to me.
Have been on some nights out, not too many though and the university night bus service as well as the taxis that can operate within the campus have been useful to me and others and it helps to travel safely between the campus and town, especially when it's getting very dark in the winter months.
Facilities
How good are your university's facilities?
Toilets are in good condition, there are plenty so the lines don't queue up too much.
Cafeteria is spacious and looks good, is kept tidy and has a range of food on offer with reasonable prices.
The shop has many products, all priced well.
Lecture halls are catered to a range of sizes, with some rooms small enough to seat 10-20 students, while others are large lecture theaters useful for talks.
There are many computers and working spaces available for students of all years and degrees, with a 24/7 computer suite open and the availability to book rooms out for group meetings and work.
Some green space in the form of a field near the entrance of the university which can be used for recreational purposes, as well as astroturf pitches and courts for a variety of sports (football, hockey ect)
Student support
How good is the support offered by the uni? Think both academic (tutors/feedback) and personal (counselling, etc).
Support is good - we have our own PAT who we can talk to about stress, academic advice ect, as well as the possibility to talk to lecturers at basically any point if we need help on a topic or advice on assessment pieces.
Personal support is good - counselling is something I will be having this semester, everything was handled well with sympathy and caring towards me, advice was given and my flatmates are supportive and listen to the advice
Students' union
What do you think of your Students' Union in terms of student representation and facilities?
The shop in the students union has a variety of products, with ammenities as well as extras at good prices, there are clean toilets and a pleasant seating area.
The table tennis outside is great, as well as the badminton left there during the warmer months
Local life
Is your university in a good location in terms of distance to accommodation and local amenities?
Yes - very close to all St John's campus halls, has an on site shop but there is also a co-op corner shop less than 5 minutes away, as well as an Aldi down the road (15 min walk max) and then 30 minutes away from the town which is good
Societies and Sports
How would you rate the variety of societies/sports?
I don't particpate in any socieites or sports, but from what I've heard and seen there are many different types of societies ranging from everything from horror films to trampolining, from suntainability to sign language.
Lecturers and teaching quality
What do you like most and least about the way your course(s) are taught?
I like how there are different forms of teaching as it doesn't get boring and I feel more confident to talk in the smaller groups to share my ideas - some are just write and talk , some have participation throughout, some have small activities to do to recap on what we were just taught, some are entirely group work which is then fed back to the class at the end.
I don't really like how sometimes lectures can just be write and talk - I understand that that is sometimes the best way to teach a particular subject but it can sometimes get a bit much and some lecturers talk and flick through slides quickly, while expecting you to keep up
How many contact hours per week do you have?
17
Career prospects
How does your uni make efforts to increase your employability (careers department, work placements, transferable skills)?
There is such a thing as the 'Worcester Award' which enables you to grow skills that are specifically catered towards employability and help improve your self.
There is a careers department which can help with CV writing, finding part time jobs as well as giving advice on what path you should/could take after university
Multiple assesments are not just exam based, meaning you get to learn skills for presentations, academic poster making and software programs that you may use during your time at a job - gives you that extra skill